"Will you be alright?"
"I'll be fine"
He followed the guard and left Hazel with the three women. "First of all, I'm going to test your determination and the skills you probably possess. You will spar with Charlotte who is a red blood like you. Then, you will spare with Nazu, she's a full blooded Silveran. You tap out once you feel like you can't go on any longer, do you understand?"
"I understand"
Nazu's gaze met Hazel's and at once, Hazel knew that this woman was a nasty threat. She was just as tall as Hazel and she was perfectly toned. Her silver eyes were menacing and she wasn't smiling. Nazu was beautiful, just like all Silverans were, but there was just something about her that was off.
Charlotte and Hazel soon stepped into the sparring arena. "Fight" Tyr ordered, her voice cold and unforgiving. Charlotte made the first attack, her fist missing Hazel's jaw by a few inches. Then, Hazel struck next. A single kick to the side of Charlotte's head knocked her out immeadietly. Surprise crossed Tyr's features. A guard standing by, took Charlotte away from the sparring arena. Then, Nazu stepped in.
"That was easy. Let's see how well you can fight" Nazu said to Hazel who clenched her fist and straightened her spine.
"Nazu, you must fight fair and square. No magic required!" Tyr said and Nazu nodded.
The fight began. They were both skillful in the defense area. Most of the time, Hazel dodged Nazu's relentless attack and Nazu did the same. Tyr was impressed. She had trained Nazu since she was a child and she'd never seen anyone block Nazu's attack so effortlessly, especially not a red blood. Thirty minutes soon bound by and Nazu was seeing red. Charlotte had awoken and was watching the fight with wide eyes. Hazel didn't look like she could pack a punch but Charlotte guessed she was wrong.
Suddenly, Nazu punched Hazel in the stomach, knocking the air out of her lungs. Taking advantage of the fact that Hazel was winded, she channeled her magic into her fist and punched her in the face. Tyr hadn't noticed the fact that Nazu had used her magic and she also wasn't aware that hidden among the shadows, stood prince Yuka. He watched Nazu with a look of anger on his face.
Nazu struck again and again, her fists brutally connecting with Hazel's ribs and stomach.
Hazel fell to the ground, unconscious and Nazu smirked. Despite the fact that Hazel had been knocked out, Tyr was impressed. Perhaps, Caden had chosen the right queen.
***
"What did you think you were doing?" Yuka demanded, his eyes burning with fury. Nazu rolled her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about"
"You know what I'm talking about, Nazu. I know that you have no dignity, but how could you stoop so low? You used magic on a red-blood!"
"She deserved it. She took Caden away from me" she hissed.
"Let's face it. You don't deserve to be queen. Someone as hateful and murderous as you are, does not deserve to rule a kingdom. The fact that you're of a noble lineage does not make you noble"
Nazu clenched her fist in anger. "What's it to you anyway?"
"If you use your magic on Hazel again, I'll-"
"You'll what? Kill me like you killed Lyraine?"
Yuka's eyes went cold.
"Maybe"
***
Hazel lay on her bed, her left eye swollen. She was pissed. Of all the injuries in the world, she detested having a black eye. She'd been so close to knocking out Nazu. Hazel hated defeat. She felt both angry at herself and Nazu. She heard a knock on the door and sat up with a wince, holding a hand to her injured ribs. "Come in" she said and the door swung open. Caden walked in with a worried look on his face.
"That looks like it hurts like a bitch" he said as he sat down by her bedside and took her hand in his. "It doesn't hurt that much" she said and he sighed. "My beautiful Hazel, always trying to act all tough even when she's hurting badly" he said and embraced her. "I'm going to send a Sapphiran to you, shortly" he said and she nodded slowly. He pressed a kiss to her head and left her chamber. Shortly after he left, Hazel noticed the adorable white cat staring at her from her window. She frowned, noticing the cat's violet eyes. Her eyes widened when she realized that it was...
"Yuka!" She said, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Come over here!" She whispered and he jumped down from the window and came to her side.
"You're so cute!" She gushed as he crawled onto her bed and curled up on her lap. She grinned and stroked his fur with a smile on her face.
"Were you worried about me, Romeo?" She asked and he looked at her as if to say, 'Romeo?'
"Yes, Romeo. It's your nickname now" she said and he closed his eyes as she continued to stroke his fur.
"You don't have to worry about me, Yuka. I'm okay" she breathed and he purred.
"How can you be so adorable?" She cooed.
There was a knock on the door. "Your highness? Can I come in?"
Hazel sighed and stroked Yuka's fur one more time. She watched him as he jumped down from her bed and was soon staring at her from the window.
"Come in" she said, still staring at Yuka's cat form.
"I'll see you later" she whispered and he jumped out of the window right before the door was opened.
Violet stepped in. She was dressed in a white blouse and white pants, her blue hair in a ponytail. Hazel's eyes widened when she saw her. "It's good to see you, Violet" she said and Violet grinned. "How is the royal life treating you?" Violet asked, smiling at her.
"Adapting to it isn't as easy as I thought"
Violet squeezed her hand gently and set to work. A bluish glow appeared on the tips of her fingers and spread further to her upper arms. She gently touched Hazel's black eye and healed her. By the time she was done with healing the future queen, Caden walked in.
"How are you feeling?" He asked and Hazel shrugged.
"I feel great. Thanks to Violet"
"Wait, you two know each other?"
"Yes, your majesty" Violet said and Caden nodded slowly. After Violet had left, Caden sat down beside Hazel's bed and gazed at her.
"Is there something on my face?" She asked, giving him a smile. "Yes, there is" he said and she sat up.
"What is it?"
"Your beautuful eyes, your pretty nose..."
She couldn't help but laugh.
"I really don't know what to say to you, Caden. For a prince, you're so weird" she said and he chuckled.
"We're all weird in our own unique way. But that's beside the point. I want us to go on a date" the prince said and Hazel stared at him, wide eyed. 'Oh no, please no. A real date? I've never been on a date before. It's going to be a disaster!' she thought.
"When are we..."
"Right now" he said and she blinked.
"Now?"
'This is not good' she thought.
"Wait, have you never dated anyone?" the prince asked and her cheeks turned pink from embarassment.
"I haven't dated anyone" she responded and he grinned.
"It means, I'm going to make sure your first date is going to be memorable" he said and she forced out a smile.
"I'm excited" she said, even though she was no where near excited.
A few minutes after Caden and Hazel's conversation, they both went to the garden for their date. Hazel was wearing a yellow dress that accentuated her curves and was long enough to cover her feet. Just as they began to eat, a royal servant walked up to them and bowed. "What is it?" Caden asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.
"Your father is presently having a meeting with the generals and the seven council members" the servant said and Caden frowned. "The council members? Why would he be having a meeting with them?"
The seven council members were the pillars of the kingdom. They were young men with shaved hair and bright silver eyes. They didn't have pupils but they could see beyond.
They all lived isolated in the center of Silvera. But they were also the eyes and ears of the king. They had strong psychic powers that could bend the will of a whole army. This was what made Silvera very dangerous. The king wouldn't have a meeting with the council members if whatever that was going to be discussed was something of meagre importance.
"What's really going on?" Caden asked and the servant bowed again.
"Your majesty, the royal sceptre has been declared missing"
Prince Caden went pale instantly. Hazel stiffened in her chair, nervously fiddling with her fingers. When Yuka had told her that he was going to steal the scepter, for a moment, she hadn't believed that he would take such risk. But now, she realized what kind of person he was. He was brave, fearless and formidable. How was she supposed to hate someone like him? How was she supposed to stay away from the man who was so selfless, he'd stolen the scepter just to help her.
"Hazel, I'll be right back" the crown prince said and stormed off with the servant who was struggling to catch up with him.
A dreadful thought came to Hazel's mind and she rose to her feet, panic quickly overwhelming her.
What if they found out that Yuka had stolen it? Would they kill him this time?
"Hazel Spiers?"
She froze when she heard the queen's frosty voice coming from behind her. She slowly turned to look at her with a blank expression.
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" the queen asked.
"I don't understand. I did nothing wrong" Hazel said, clenching her fist.
"I can't believe my son chose someone like you. You do not deserve to be queen, Rubian. I've been watching you. You have been going to the East wing very frequently, haven't you?"
Hazel's fingernails dug into her palms as her annoyance began to surge within her.
"I don't see why I should be ashamed of that. It's not like I am having an affair with Yuka" she said and the queen slapped her across the face, hard.
"Don't you dare say his name in front of me. What do you think Caden is going to do, if he finds out that you've been visiting his brother a lot more than you hang out with him?"
"I don't see why any of that is your business, your highness. I do not appreciate you treating me like trash. I might have red blood in my veins but that doesn't mean that I'm a nonentity. If you're so upset about Caden choosing me as his bride, why don't you talk to him about it?" Hazel said, refusing to get intimidated by the queen.
"You're playing with fire" the queen spat.
"Oh, am I?"
Hazel looked like she was enjoying herself.
"I could kill you right now, you know that, right?" the queen hissed.
Hazel let out a humourless laughter, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Are you threatening me right now, your highness? No, wait. You are threatening me. Wait until Caden hears about it"
The queen was getting more riled up by the second. She couldn't understand why Hazel was so immune to her. She hated it. Evey other person in the palace was completely under her control. Everyone but Yuka and Hazel. She was frustrated. Since she couldn't get either of them to fear her, she was pissed.
"I have a hunch that you stole the Sceptre. But since I have no proof, I'm going to let that slide.... for now.
You want to act all tough and fearless. That's fine by me. Maybe, just maybe, you're going to end up six feet below the ground sooner than I thought" the queen said and walked away. Hazel glared at the Queen's retreating figure even though, deep down she was worried.
Prince Caden was boiling with anger by the time he arrived right in front of the door of Yuka's chamber. He tried to use his magic to force the door open but the door wouldn't budge. So, he knocked on the door until it opened. Kai, Yuka's bestfriend and personal healer opened the door, a questioning look on his face.
Caden pushed past him and entered Yuka's chamber only to find Yuka lying on his bed looking very much asleep. His face was pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. Caden frowned, not wanting to believe that Yuka hadn't stolen the Sceptre.
"Yuka" he said and Kai walked up to him with a frown on his face.
"Please, your majesty. Let him rest. He couldn't sleep last night and he had a terrible fever all through the night. He's still being affected by the poison" Kai said and Caden narrowed his eyes. If Yuka had been too sick to get out of bed the previous night, then who had stolen the Sceptre?
"Yuka! Get up!" Caden said and Yuka slowly opened his eyes, squinting at him.
"Caden, what are you doing here?" He asked, his voice hoarse. "Don't try to fool me, Yuka. I know you stole the Sceptre"
Yuka pulled his blanket closer around himself.
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. You're just looking for an excuse to see me in this state. Now, please will you just leave me alone?" Yuka croaked.
"Father demands for your presence in the main court, right now"
Yuka groaned, clenching his fist. "Why won't you just leave me alone?"
"Get up, Yuka"
"Fine"
He sat up, his long hair tumbling down the sides of his face. He slowly got out of bed and swayed a bit. Kai immediately steadied him with a worried look on his face. "Your majesty, this is a bad idea. You can barely walk" he said and Yuka shook his head slightly.
"I'm fine"
"Lead the way, brother. Why don't you?" Yuka said and Caden clenched his fist. They both made their way out of Yuka's chamber with Yuka looking like he was going to keel over. On getting to the main court, none of the council members or the members of the royal household showed concern for the second prince.
"You called for me" Yuka croaked and the queen raised a brow.
"You stole the Sceptre, didn't you?" the king asked and he sighed. "Father, why would I do that? You know very well that I don't do things without having a reasonable reason to do them. Besides, I was punished just yesterday" Yuka rasped.
"Only the members of the royal family know where the Sceptre was kept and that is including you" Lyen, one of the council members said.
"If you're suggesting that I stole it because I don't want Caden to get married... to the..."
Yuka's voice trailed off as he clutched the side of his head, his face contorted with pain.
"Yuka, you don't look so good" the king said, his brows furrowed.
Yuka forced out a smile.
"You don't have to look so worried, especially when I know you're not" Yuka said, staring right at his father like he was sending some secret message to him.
The king blinked and his expression became blank once more.
"Yuka, tell us the truth right now. We can go easy on you if you confirm that you stole it" another member of the council said.
"Why do you always assume that I only do bad things?"
"It's because that's who you are" was the Queen's reply.
"I-" Yuka's eyes suddenly rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Guards! Take the second prince to his chamber. Ask the chief healer to attend to him" the king ordered and the guards immediately obeyed their king.
Caden was going insane because the Sceptre was still missing and apparently, Yuka wasn't guilty of stealing it.
In the king's study, the king sat with his royal advisor, Amon.
"I know for a fact that my son, Yuka, stole the scepter" he said and Amon raised a brow. "How do you know that?"
"I know him very well, Amon. His statement confirmed it. If he went ahead to steal the Sceptre, it means he had a reason for doing so. I trust his judgement. But, I am worried about him, Amon"
"I am also worried about the second prince, your grace. He is so daring and courageous. Yet, he has gone through so much in the hands of the queen"
The king shook his head with a distraught look on his face. "I am the king. But I feel so helpless when it comes to Clarice and I hate the fact that I always have to pretend that I don't care about Yuka"
"Yuka knows that it's all a facade, you know that right?"
The king snorted.
"Of course, he would see right through my facade. He reminds me so much of his mother"
"What are the council members saying about the Sceptre?" Amon asked.
"They want the Sceptre to remain hidden"
"Why?"
"Because Hazel is not Caden's wife. She will be queen but she is not destined to be Caden's life partner"
"Are you saying that she is Yuka's wife?"
"No. They didn't say she's Yuka's wife. They were secretive about who her true husband is" the king responded.
"How long are we going to keep this up? Clarice is seriously hurting Yuka and there is absolutely nothing we can do"
"I know that we will find a way soon and I believe that Hazel's arrival at the palace is going to lead to the beginning of a new era. An era where everything will be exposed and the handwriting on the wall will be read"
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